Chapter 60

Wu Wei Leadership

Governing a great state is like cooking small fish.

Let the kingdom be governed according to the Tao, and the manes of

the departed will not manifest their spiritual energy. It is not that

those manes have not that spiritual energy, but it will not be

employed to hurt men. It is not that it could not hurt men, but

neither does the ruling sage hurt them.

When these two do not injuriously affect each other, their good

influences converge in the virtue (of the Tao).

Commentary

Source: Paul Carus (1913) - Chapter heading

HOW TO MAINTAIN ONE'S PLACE.

Philosophical Insight

Source: Paul Carus (1913) - Canon of Reason and Virtue

1. Govern a great country as you would fry small fish: [neither gut nor scale them.] 2. If with Reason the empire is managed, its ghosts will not spook. Not only will its ghosts not spook, but its gods will not harm the people. Not only will its gods not harm the people, but neither will its holy men harm the people. Since neither will do harm, therefore their virtues will be combined. Next: 61. The Virtue of Humility | « Previous: The Canon of Reason and Virtue (Tao te Ching): The Old Ph... Nex...